Mix-Tape Quilt Complete

OK, so here it is, the completed Mix-Tape Quilt. I'm still working on another one. I'll probably have that one done in a couple weeks. I really hate working on quilts as big as this one, but I love them when they're done. Though, I almost always have a problem with the backs - part of the reason I don't do pieced backs. The backs always bunch up on me while I'm quilting and I get these puckers that end up being sewn over. They're a mess. I usually spend time picking stitches when I'm done and easing the fabric. Then once washed they look OK, but this one. This one is bad. So Bran gets it. I told him last week - you know what would stop this? A quilting frame! lol. Maybe I'll get one for Christmas. Probably about then I'll be bored with quilting though and will have moved on to something else. lol.

If you're interested in this pattern you can find it on Etsy in Oh, Fransson's shop. She's the bomb. The mack daddy bomb.

Frustrated

Ok, so I started the sashing on the Mix-Tape Quilt. I actually got half of the quilt sashed and started the second half this evening. Well...somehow I cut some of them about 1/4 too small, and of course I didn't notice until after I'd completed all the vertical sashing. I'm just so frustrated. I'm going to have to rip out a row and a half of sashing...and 10 minutes ago I was so excited that I'd gotten so much done today. Grrrr...

Well, here's a photo of the top half sashed. Correctly. lol

Mixtape Quilt(s)

I very recently bought a quilt pattern from Oh, Fransson called Mixtape Quilts. She also held the Mod-Sampler quilt along that I participated in earlier this year. The Mod-Sampler quilt is yet to be finished. I made the mistake of leaving the quilt top out on Mother's day when my in-laws came over. My mother-in-law loved the quilt, and then said "I have this sheet". (I pieced the Mod-Sampler quilt with vintage sheets). Well actually my sister-in-law now has the sheet. My mother-in-law offered it to me as a backing to the quilt, which I think will look nice if the sheet is in good enough condition. But, it's been actively used for 20 years or so...so, I'm a little scared. Anywhoo, I thought I'd put off finishing the quilt until I got the sheet so that I could make a decision. However, if I don't have that sheet in the next month I'm going to go ahead and back it with the sheet I already purchased.

OK, back to the Mixtape Quilt. I cut and pieced this yesterday. Yeah, yesterday. This is half the quilt, all that would fit on my dining room table so that I could look and the block/color placement. I think it's random enough that I'm going to go ahead and put the quilt top together without looking at all the blocks together. Of course I'll lay out the other half of the quilt and take a picture of it as well. This quilt is pieced mostly with vintage sheets. I love the funkiness of the prints. Actually the fat quarters I purchased were marked as vintage/upcycled sheets - but some of the fabrics are suspect. As in I suspect some of them may have been cheap, dollar a yard, fabrics from Wal-Mart. But, if they hold up to washings then fine, I don't care because they all look adorable.

I have also pieced the blocks for a second Mixtape Quilt. But, that one's a secret...for now.

Little Lambs

I finished baby quilt #6 last night. The baby shower is tomorrow and I had actually scheduled myself as finishing the binding today - so I'm ahead of schedule! Yay me. Obviously the baby's name is going to be Kate. I found the little lambs on Flickr, adjusted them a little to fit my idea, then found a free font, put the two together and voila, cute baby embroidery pattern. The rest of the quilt is whole cloth and quilted in my usual free motion quilting style. Cute, don't you think?

Tomorrow is both the baby shower and father's day. Lucky for me, my mother-in-law and Bran's grandmother were invited to the shower as well. So, we're all going to travel together. After the shower I'll host father's day at my house for the in-laws. I figured I'll serve steaks: I'll make Bran grill them, broccoli: steamed in the nuker for a couple minutes, German Potato Salad: I'll whip that up this afternoon, and home-made strawberry ice-cream: I'll get that going this afternoon - all that, it should be pretty easy - and basically all done before tomorrow. :)

Happy Father's Day everyone!

Baby Quilt #5

I've finished another baby quilt! This quilt is for my husband's cousin and his wife. I recently found out that another cousin and his wife are expecting as well, so I ordered fabric today for baby quilt #6. Their shower is in a couple of weeks so they're getting a whole cloth quilt. I might embroider something in the front right hand quarter, or I might not, I'll keep you posted.

I've also got ordered some cool fabric for an idea that's been brewing in my brain. At the moment I've got a million cool ideas in my brain though. I guess the trick now is to get those ideas out into the physical world.

Alaska!

Last month was crazy busy. I mentioned that in my last post though, I'm sure.

The project I thought would be complete by the end of the month wasn't completed - though I lay most of the blame for that at the feet of the person or people that were responsible for relaying to me that Development would not have a completed project until the 15th of June. So, tell me, how effectively was I using my time trying to document software that was, and still is, in limbo? OK - so I've got it 98% complete and am waiting for the final product to be rolled out so that I may update the work I've already done. Have I mentioned that I don't like wasting time? Oh, I have no problem sitting around taking my time, but I have a huge problem doing double work. I'm off my soapbox now.

We did close the old office at the end of the month and Bran and I are now both working from home. It's been a little bit of an adjustment. Though we both worked at home occasionally before we moved, being in the house everyday and having to physically move in our work computers, monitors, and files was a job. Not to mention the logistics of VPN, VOIP, having another phone line installed, and then having to deal with our phone and internet going down yesterday at the house.

So, here's the fun stuff. We loved Alaska. I would definitely recommend visiting Alaska if you have a chance. It was really beautiful. Bran and I took the trip with my parents and my brother. Bran, Brian, and I basically covered the trip for my parents...kind of an early Christmas gift for the next 5 years, a 40th anniversary present, and a thank you for everything you did for us growing up. I think the best part was how excited my mom was. Often, though I don't think intentionally, she just doesn't seem that excited about gifts - almost a "I wanted something better" feeling. Again, I don't think it's intentional, but a little deflating at times. But she was so excited about this trip - it made it all worth while. So, back to the trip. If you ever take a trip to Alaska and find yourself in Skagway be sure to take the White Pass Rail Road trip. It is so worth every dime. If you're interested, my photos of the trip are posted here.

Good Day!

Despite the fact that I couldn't sleep last night and got only 2 hours of sleep before the alarm woke me up in the morning for work, today was a really good day! I blame the lack of sleep on an over busy mind. I have a documentation project due, our office is moving, most of us are going to start working from home (my husband and me included), and we're going on a cruise to Alaska all within the next 4 weeks - so I have alot on my mind. Last night was one of those nights when you just lay there and the mind just keeps running. I even got up and did a couple of the things that were occupying my mind, doing that usually lets me relax and sleep, but not last night.

I finished a quilt that's been in the works for the last 10 years last night. That was a really good feeling. The quilt started as a gift for a friend. One of those friends that you feel compelled to do things for. I usually stay away from those kind of friends, but she was a friend that I made back when we were like 5. Anyways, I started the quilt and actually had it pieced and sandwiched 10 years ago. I wanted to free motion quilt it, but just never could get the hang of it, and it is a HUGE quilt. I was really frustrated because I'd buy quilting books or check quilting books out from the library and they'd all just complete a quilt by saying "now quilt it by machine or hand". Lots of instructions on blocks and binding but nothing on quilting. I was frustrated about it for 10 years. Finally I did some research on the internet, bought a darning foot, practiced a little, then took on the giant quilt from hell. It's now done but I'm no longer in touch with the original recipient. So this afternoon I called my mom and asked her if she wanted it. My lucky mom.

Today was also a good mail day! I got a copy of Antique Doll Collector, accessories for my new phone, and some fabric I ordered from A La Mode on Etsy. Check out this mail box booty!

And here's a little lagniappe...a peak at what I'm currently working on. My Mod Sampler Quilt, which is pieced and needs to be quilted and bound, a zig-zag baby quilt, and a diamond baby quilt. :)